Teacher's pet case: Seven key claims that could decide trial of Chris Dawson

Chris and Lynette Dawson, in earlier times and JC (right) who moved into the Dawson family home when Lynette went missing. Photos / Supplied

They are the seven key claims and incidents that will decide the fate of Chris Dawson.

After seven weeks of evidence — and a further week of delay due to Covid-19 — the high-profile Supreme Court trial of the former Australian teacher, professional rugby league player and part-time model is drawing to a close.

Having pleaded not guilty, and fought allegations that he killed his wife Lynette and disposed of her body in the summer of 1982, his trial is expected to conclude on Monday.

During his closing submissions, Crown prosecutor Craig Everson argued the ex-Newtown Jets player had previously hatched four "plans" to leave Lynette.

Chris Dawson has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Lynette 40 years ago. Photo / NCA NewsWire

However, when they failed or were abandoned, he murdered the mother-of-two on January 8 or 9, then disposed of her body.

His defence team has relied on three key events, which they say prove Ms Dawson was alive after she disappeared, never to speak to her family or friends again.

Together, they are the seven points that Justice Ian Harrison will have to consider when he is asked to deliver his judgment.

1. THE PHONE CALL AT THE NORTHBRIDGE BATHS

According to Mr Dawson's version of events, he dropped his wife off at a Mona Vale bus stop on the morning of Saturday January 9 so she could go shopping.

The plan was for her to meet Mr Dawson, their two children, Ms Dawson's mother Helena Simms and family friend Phillip Day at the Northbridge Baths that afternoon.

Mr Dawson worked a weekend part-time job at the baths as a lifeguard.

He claims that during his shift, he received a long-distance phone call from Ms Dawson who said she needed time away.

Mr Dawson said he received further calls from Ms Dawson in the following days and weeks before she finally phoned him to say she would not be returning.

The photo of JC on her 18th birthday. She claims she was wearing Lynette Dawson's clothes which were left behind. Photo / Supplied

His defence has claimed a then-teenage girl working at the baths, CB, recalled receiving a long-distance phone call from a woman at the pool's kiosk and handed it to either Mr Dawson or his brother Paul.

The crown has argued the woman's memory was unreliable and she was mistaken about the date.

2. BANK CARD RECORDS

The defence has pointed to bank records, which they say show Ms Dawson made several purchases following her disappearance.

They have described her as an enthusiastic shopper with an extensive wardrobe.

Defence barrister Pauline David has contended bank records showing she made purchases at a Katies and Just Jeans after January 8, 1982.

However, the crown says those records cannot be relied upon because in 1982 bank cards were not electronic and there was a delay in purchases being made and showing up on the bank's records.

Ms David has also pointed to evidence that Ms Dawson had opened a bank account without her husband's knowledge and had the statements forwarded to her work address at a Warriewood childcare centre.

3. THE 'SIGHTINGS'

There were five claimed "sightings" of Ms Dawson following January 8, 1982.

Ray Butlin, a Dawson family friend, says his wife Sue — before her death — told him of seeing Lynette at a Central Coast roadside fruit barn

The Dawsons' former Bayview neighbours, Peter and Jill Breese, said they had both independently seen Ms Dawson working at Rock Castle Hospital at Curl Curl in June 1984 – over two-and-a-half years after she was last seen.

Lynette Dawson went missing in 1982. Photo / Supplied

Elva McBay, another family friend, said she attended a parade for Prince Charles and Princess Diana in the Sydney CBD on March 28, 1983.

She told a committal hearing in 2020 that she saw a woman who looked like Lynette Dawson run in front of a motorcade.

Mr Dawson's brother-in-law Ross Hutcheon said he saw Lynette Dawson, about three to six months after she had disappeared, on the side of a road at Gladesville.

The police and crown said those four sightings were glancing, unreliable and cases of mistaken identity.

The defence's star witness, Paul Cooper, told the court he had a chance meeting with Lynette Dawson at a pub at Warners Bay, in the Lake Macquarie region, in early 1982.

Mr Cooper said that the woman had told him that she had two children but was running away from her family because her husband had cheated on her.

He said that he was left with the impression that Ms Dawson was "setting her husband up".

He later came forward to Mr Dawson's solicitor in 2018 after seeing a story about Ms Dawson on A Current Affair.

The crown argued Mr Cooper's evidence could be disregarded because he had an unreliable memory due to his use of drugs, including marijuana and heroin.

4. THE MANLY FLAT

Central of the case is one of Mr Dawson's students and the couple's babysitter, JC.

The court has heard that Mr Dawson would mix his wife an alcoholic drink at night and have sex with JC after Lynette had fallen asleep.

JC moved into the Dawson home following Lynette's disappearance. Photo / NCA NewsWire

Soon after Ms Dawson's disappearance, JC moved into her home at Bayview and would later marry Mr Dawson.

The crown has alleged that at some point in 1981, JC and Mr Dawson had inspected a flat at North Manly where he had put down a $200 deposit.

The intention, according to JC, was for Mr Dawson to leave his wife and for them to live as a couple.

However, JC said that Mr Dawson pulled out of the plan because he had spoken to his brother Peter, a solicitor.

She said Mr Dawson had relayed to her Peter's advice that he would jeopardise his financial rights to the Gilwinga Drive property if he were to move out.

Under cross-examination, Peter Dawson told the court that he had not given his brother such advice.

5. THE 'HIT MAN'

During her evidence, JC made several damaging claims against her ex-husband — that he was controlling, physically abusive and treated her like a "sex slave".

Mr Dawson's defence has denied all allegations.

She also told the court of one occasion, when she was a schoolgirl, how she had travelled with Mr Dawson south of the Harbour Bridge to what she believed was a pub or club.

According to her version of events, she was told to wait in the car while he went inside.

She said that when he returned, she asked what they were doing there.

"I think I asked him what was that about because it doesn't seem like we've done anything," JC told the court.

"He said 'I went inside to get a hit man to kill Lyn but then I decided I couldn't do it because innocent people would be killed, could be hurt'."

JC first raised the "hit man" allegation in the midst of a bitter separation and court proceedings in 1990.

And the defence has claimed that she invented the claims to damage her ex-husband.

Mr Dawson's lawyers have also argued that JC made earlier inconsistent statements about the alleged incident.

Ms David pointed to a May 1991 statement made by JC in which she had said that Mr Dawson did not tell her until several weeks later that he had tried to hire a hit man.

6. THE PLAN TO SELL 2 GILWINGA DRIVE

The crown has contended Mr Dawson was planning to sell his marital home in December 1981 as part of a plan to leave Lynette Dawson.

After Ms Dawson's disappearance, Mr Dawson dropped off a bag of her belongings at her family's home.

Lynette Dawson during an appearance on the ABC Chequerboard programme. Photo / ABC

In a dressing gown, her brother Greg Simms found a sales inspection report, which Mr Dawson had signed, however, Ms Dawson had not.

The document stated Mr Dawson was intending to sell the property for $280,000 ($310,000).

Mr Simms gave evidence that Ms Dawson had told him she had refused to sell the house that she loved.

It fits in with the Crown allegation that Mr Dawson had financial motives to kill his wife.

However, Ms David has argued that even if Mr Dawson was seeking to sell the property, Ms Dawson would have got a share which contradicts the Crown's claim that he was motivated by money.

7. THE MOVE TO QUEENSLAND

Just days before Christmas 1981, Mr Dawson and JC piled their clothes and belongings into his car, then set out for Queensland.

Mr Dawson left his wife a note saying: "Don't paint too dark a picture of me to the girls."

The incident is captured in a photo taken by Mr Dawson, tendered to the court, which shows JC standing with his car in the background.

However, before they could reach the border, JC asked for the car to be turned around after growing ill and saying she missed her family.

They returned on Christmas Day — but the court has heard that instead of going home, Mr Dawson spent the day at his brother's house just a few doors up.

Chris (right) and Paul Dawson during an appearance on the ABC chequerboard programme. Photo / ABC

Meanwhile, his wife and their children went to Chris' parents house for Christmas celebrations.

The prosecution says it is one of four "plans" hatched by Mr Dawson, which proved that in late 1981 and early 1982 he was seeking to leave his wife.

However, Ms David argued the incident also went to an important part of the defence case.

Chris and Lynette Dawson on their wedding day. Photo / Supplied

She said JC did not want to be a replacement mother to Mr Dawson's two children, which is why they had attempted to start a new life in Queensland without the kids.

She argued that had he killed Ms Dawson, it would have "created" rather than "eliminated" a problem of who would care for his young daughters.

The trial is expected to conclude on Monday morning.